Compass No 416 - April 2016

From the Principal

Purpose Through Service

We find our deepest purpose when we are using our strengths in service of others. As we come together in community, it is the joining of many strengths that enriches us all. As a community, we provide space for strengths to be nurtured and grow. We celebrate the different strengths that people bring and have the humility to serve and be served.

As Jesus gathered His team of disciples together, He gathered people with very different strengths and backgrounds and patiently provided space and learning opportunities for them to grow. He walked with them, shared wisdom through story and persisted with them even when they let Him down. As we journey through life, He is walking with us, inviting us to learn through story and persisting with us when we fail. When we use our strengths to make a difference to others we live out God’s most important commandment to ‘love our neighbour’. We find joy and purpose in service.

Principal's Log

The perfect weather conditions on Friday evening added to the ambience as we enjoyed jazz performances from soloists, duets and the Pacific Jazz Ensemble. As the moon rose, we enjoyed a range of food professionally prepared and served by our Hospitality students and relaxed as the rich tones of jazz surrounded us. Thank you to our grounds staff and Friends of Pacific for their set up and pack down. Thank you to parents, staff and students who attended and made the evening a success. Thank you and congratulations to our staff and students who performed on Friday night, capably led by Mrs Aleisha Tuaine and Mr Adrian King and to our Hospitality students who prepared and served tasty food under the expert guidance of Mrs Colleen Beattie.

At the Kings Beach Dawn Service on Monday, Pastor Arthur Fry highlighted the importance of young people participating in Anzac Day commemoration events. Staff and students showed their respect for the service of men and women and those affected by war through very strong attendance at the Dawn Service, the morning march and at the Centaur Retirement Village where Year 6 students participated in a special ceremony. The College also held a service on Tuesday morning. Amongst the very strong thread of valuing service and courage in local and international services, there was recognition of the futility of war and the importance of people working for peace.

Staff and students very much enjoyed the activities supported by the library in their celebration of Shakespeare week. As well as being able to dress in costumes from the era and participate in a variety of games and activities, staff and students were also able to enjoy short excerpts of Shakespeare’s plays, performed by the Year 7 Drama students. We thank Ms Nell Keen and the library staff for providing the opportunity for us to be immersed in this important cultural event.

We hold the St Andrews Lutheran College community in our prayers after they lost a number of senior school facilities in a fire this week. As well as damage to learning spaces, teachers and senior students lost important learning material, personal equipment and resources. As we would understand, the loss of these materials has had significant personal impact on people within the college. As a community we can assist by contributing to the cost of replacing materials not covered by insurance, for those families who would find the replacement of these materials a significant challenge. Details of the ways in which we can provide support will be provided next week.

We thank God for the people of this community who give generously of their time and gifts in so many different ways for the betterment of others. It is what energises and gives us joy and purpose.

Dr Bronwyn Dolling, Principal

Winter Uniform

Winter Uniform Commences Tuesday 3rd May

The winter uniform will commence on Tuesday 3rd May.

Ties are to be worn by Middle and Senior College boys and senior students are to wear their blazers to and from College.

From the College Pastor

Silence and Justice

Have you ever been silent when you should have spoken up? Have you ever been in a situation when someone has said or done something inappropriate in front of others and you have done nothing? I know that I have. Being silent in the face of wrongdoing is not a good place to be. When this happens in a group setting where numerous people remain silent, the wrongdoing or injustice can snowball and grow into something much bigger. At some point, someone needs to break the silence and speak up for what is right. Whether it is bullying online or at school, verbal or physical abuse at home or racial or religious putdowns in the general community, somebody needs to break the silence and act courageously. For justice to occur, people need to speak up and confront those who abuse their power. If the person affected cannot break the silence, another person needs to stand up and speak for them.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the Lutheran pastor and theologian who was martyed by the Nazis during the Second World War, was one such person. Bonhoeffer was a person who broke the silence and not only spoke up for the Jews and others who were persecuted but also actively resisted and plotted to get rid of the evil his country was experiencing. Bonhoeffer wrote; “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act”.

God willing, we will never find ourselves in such an extreme situation as Bonhoeffer was in, but God does ask us not be silent in the face of injustice. In the Old Testament the prophet Micah says, “What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our Lord”.

As we commemorate Anzac Day this week and remember the injustices of war, may we all stand up and speak out courageously for others when we need to.

Pastor Tim Jarick, College Pastor

From the Director of Students

PERMA - Engagement

This term in PERMA we are focusing on ‘engagement’. The Positive Schools Group has been exploring some of the key terms linked to the concept of engagement such as flow, curiosity and interest, creativity, passion and motivation. Recently, the group surveyed staff and discovered that they perceived flow as the key to engagement. Csikszentmihalyi (1997) defines flow as an optimal state of concentration on task, which is intrinsically motivating. Time awareness shifts, the individual feels in control and awareness and activity seems to blend. An individual who experiences flow is motivated to return to this rewarding experience.

Flow often occurs in activities that are voluntary and enjoyable. In a school environment, students can experience flow when a task requires skills that are somewhat challenging and has clear goals geared towards success. A student should feel they have control and receive feedback with room to grow. Interestingly, a flow state is characterised by the absence of emotions – a complete loss of self-consciousness. However, the flow activity may be described as enjoyable and even exhilarating.

Staff will continue to support students to help them engage and develop positive traits such as high concentration, high self-esteem and even better health.

Anzac Day

On Anzac Day around 200 Pacific students joined the Caloundra Veterans March. A big thank you to the many staff that also attended and the great parent support in getting students to and from the March. On Tuesday we held a special Anzac Day chapel that involved the College String Ensemble, the Senior Concert Band and Mr Dean Carey from the Caloundra RSL.

Mr Brendan Delaney, Director of Students

From the Head of Staff and Students P-5

Mother's Day Stall

Next week, the Friends of Pacific will be running a Mother’s Day stall for Prep – Year 5 students on Wednesday 4th May. A flyer providing details of the event was sent home with students this week.

NAPLAN

This year’s National Assessment Program in Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) for students in years 3, 5, 7 and 9 will be held from 10th – 12th May. Further information will be forwarded over the coming weeks.

Allergy Awareness Week

This year, Allergy Awareness Week will be held from 15th – 20th May. Pacific has a number of students who suffer from life threatening allergies. As such, it is an issue that affects the entire College community. In the case of nut and food allergies, complete avoidance of the food trigger is the only way to prevent a reaction. We request that parents do not send nut or peanut products of any kind to school with their children. Examples of products that contain peanuts are Peanut Butter, Nutella, peanut bars and some muesli bars and health bars. Please read food labelling to ensure that foods sent to school do not contain peanuts.

Walk Safely to School Day

On Friday 20th May, the Sunshine Coast Council is encouraging students to walk, scoot or skate to school for Walk Safely to School Day. Walk Safely to School Day (WSTSD) is an annual community event that promotes road safety, health, public transport and the environment. By walking to school, you’ll get some great exercise and quality time with friends, as well as assist in reducing traffic congestion and pollution around the school. To ensure the safety of our students, parents are also invited to join for all or part of the commute from home to school on the day.

If you live too far to walk from home, students and parents are welcome to meet at Oakdale Park on Oakdale Circuit, Currimundi and join us for a short walk to school. Mr David Druery will be there to meet students at 8.00am, for an 8.05am departure.

Important Notices

School Photos

Year 6-12 Tuesday 17th May

Sibling / Family Tuesday 17th May

Prep - Year 5 Tuesday 24th May

For the convenience of our school community, school photos can be ordered and paid for online using a secure platform. Orders placed online are paperless and DO NOT require an envelope with cash/cheques to be returned to school.

Photos can also be purchased in the traditional manner using an envelope, with cash/cheque enclosed. However, the preference of the College is that orders and payments are made online, as this reduces administration time and security issues related to the return of cash on photo day.

To place your order, visit www.advancedlife.com.au and enter the code B7H 8V9 RRH. This code can also be found printed on your envelope. Please be aware that:

Sibling / Family photos can be ordered online or via envelope. Online orders for Sibling / Family photos will be cut off at 12.00am the night before so a run list can be compiled. Sibling photos can still be ordered after the online cut-off date by collecting an envelope from the office and returning the envelope on photo day with your payment enclosed.

All online orders should be placed on or before our day of photography.

The online code above may also be used to order sports and other group photos.

All orders placed online will be delivered to the College for collection.

Friends of Pacific

Connecting College and Community

Mother’s Day Stall

Next week, the Friends of Pacific will be running a Mother’s Day stall on Wednesday 4th May for students from Prep – Year 5. Students will visit the stall in class groups with their teachers. All gifts are only $5 each. Students are asked to bring their money in a named envelope.

There will also be a table set up in each of the ELC rooms from Tuesday 3rd May to Friday 6th May for all ELC children. All gifts are only $5 each. Children are asked to bring their money in a named envelope.

Mrs Tracey Hindmarsh, FoP Chairperson

Staff News

Staff on the Move

This term, staff have been embracing a new wellness initiative and are ‘Walking with Attitude’! For six weeks, staff are challenged to walk 10,000 steps each day. Twelve teams of five members had their walking shoes on and pedometers clipped when the challenge commenced last week. It is a fantastic commitment from 60 staff members across all areas of the school.

Already the feedback has been incredibly positive, as teachers pace out steps in their rooms finding new and innovative ways to incorporate movement. The library staff are eagerly volunteering to drop off books to classrooms in an attempt to earn more steps and our teacher aides have surprised themselves with how much they move in a day.

So keep your eyes peeled, look for a FitBit or a small pedometer and strike up a conversion! Proudly sponsored by the Staff Wellness Committee!

Mrs Lu Pollard, Year 3 Teacher

Library News

Shakespeare Week

Thank you to everyone for making Shakespeare Week a great success. If students would like their photo, dressed up in their Shakespearean costumes, they may collect them from the library next week.

Our Shakespearean games day was enjoyed by Junior College students, who played games from Shakespeare’s day such as quoits, barley break (which involved getting from one side of the field to the other without being caught by the people in the middle, all while holding hands with a partner) and a giant version of the board game, Nine Men’s Morris.

Ms Nell Keen, Teacher Librarian

Junior College

5000 Poppies – A Community Project of Respect and Remembrance

Between 2014 and 2018 Australia will commemorate the Anzac Centenary, marking 100 years since Australia’s involvement in the First World War. During 2015, there was a large number of activities commemorating 100 years since the Anzac Gallipoli landing.

Some of you may remember the article in last year’s Compass newsletter about some of our parents and children crocheting and knitting poppies during alternative lunchtime activities. These poppies were contributed to a community tribute, along with a dedication to all servicemen and women from the Sunshine Coast who have served and still serve. They were part of a huge display in Federation Square in Melbourne for Anzac Day last year.

Now they are off to the Chelsea Flower Show as per the article (left) found in the Jetstar inflight magazine during the holidays. It is very exciting to think that our small contribution is part of such a huge and continually growing tribute to the servicemen and women who have and still are courageously serving our country.

On Monday 25th April, 16 students from Year 6 and their parents visited the Centaur Retirement Village to participate in their Anzac Day service. Several of our students spoke about what Anzac Day means to them and all students were asked to read a prayer. They represented themselves, their families and the College very well. Many students had already been to at least one, if not two, Anzac Day related activities before arriving at Centaur. It was fantastic to see the spirit of the Anzacs living on in the younger generation.

Ms Leisa Ilott, Year 6 Teacher

Secondary College

Hospitality and Food Technology

This year students have taken a closer look at new and developing trends in the Hospitality industry. Students designed their own individual learning paths to equip them with the relevant knowledge and skills to help them advance their future careers. Year 11 students have been using fine dining skills to create ice cream with the assistance of dry ice, a notable skill introduced through Heston Blumenthal’s restaurant in Melbourne, ‘The Fat Duck’. Students have also participated in a Camembert cheese making workshop and engaged in boutique beverage production of cold press coffee and ginger beer. Recently, Year 11 and 12 Hospitality students were host to over 150 guests at the College Open Day and Jazz Evening. We would like to thank the community for their continued support in our real world learning experiences.

Mrs Colleen Beattie, Head of Hospitality and Food Technology

Information Technology

There has been lots of excitement in the IT lab this week.

Lunchtimes have been busy with the Minecraft competition organised by the Year 11 IT boys. Students from all levels have been working through lunchtimes to develop their fun park rides. It has been great to see younger students working in teams to develop creative theme park rides.

The Mayor’s Technology Challenge teams have been busily developing their projects in readiness for 13th May when they will present their pitch to a panel of judges. The piano stairs are developing well and the surf tracker group are well on target.

This week, the Year 7 IT class completed the Robowars competition. Robots faced off against one another using iPad controls. The grand final was a tight duel between Rebel 4 and Kanye2020. Well done to Kanye2020 who was victorious!

Mrs Janine Stone, Head of Information Technology

Japanese Language Immersion Day 2016

Last Wednesday, our Year 10, 11 and 12 Japanese students were among several prominent Sunshine Coast high schools fortunate to attend the Japanese Language Immersion Day held at the Sunshine Coast University. Throughout the morning, students had the opportunity to contribute to group discussions, participate in authentic Japanese conversations with native speakers and extend their knowledge of the Japanese writing system through the study of kanji. Besides developing their language skills, students took part in some exciting cultural activities including shyodou (calligraphy), sadou (tea ceremony) and the Japanese martial art of aikidou before being treated to a delicious Japanese lunch.

The day also provided students with information about the Head Start Program, a transition program for Year 11 and 12 students to study USC courses while still completing high school. Our students thoroughly enjoyed the experience and it was a pleasure to witness such interested and motivated young adults who took advantage of the learning opportunities presented.

Ms Melissa Pietrala and Mrs Michiko Hauser

Cultural News

To Kill A Mockingbird

Our cast of 34 students has been eagerly rehearsing since last year; running lines, building their characters and practicing for the hard-hitting play, which is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Tickets are on sale now and are selling fast! To secure yours, visit: www.theeventscentre.com or phone: 5491 4240. Make sure you don’t miss this must see event!

Mrs Janine Delaney, Director

Careers Department

Options Career Bulletin

Click here to download the latest Options Career Information Bulletin.

Mrs Natasha Purcell, Careers Counsellor

Secondary Sport

SCISSA Volleyball

Well done to the Open A Boys, Open A Girls and Open B Boys on great wins this week in volleyball. The Open A Boys defeated the previously undefeated Sunshine Coast Grammar School (SCGS) team and the Open A Girls also took on SCGS and won in straight sets. The Open B Boys should be congratulated on a very high level of play to defeat a very good Matthew Flinders Anglican College team this week. The boys played as a team and all contributed both on the court and off to win the game 3-0.

Games next week will all be played at Pacific. Please note that all teams will be required to stay for duty before/after their games. The Year 10 and 11 girls teams will play against each other at school during lunchtime on Wednesday.

Week 4:

Team

Venue

Opposition

Time

Duty

11/12 A Boys

PLC

SAAC

4.00pm

Open A Girls

11/12 A Girls

PLC

SAAC

4.45pm

Open A Boys

11/12 B Boys

PLC

SAAC 3

4.00pm

Open B Girls

12 B Girls (PLC 2)

PLC

SAAC 2

4.45pm

Open B Boys

11 B Girls (PLC 3)

PLC

PLC 4

Will be played at lunchtime (1.05pm)

Mr Hauser

10 B Girls (PLC 4)

PLC

PLC 3

Mr Hauser

Student Success

Congratulations to Year 12 student, Jake Hynes, who has had a tremendous start to 2016 and his triathlon endeavours. Jake only began training for triathlons two years ago and has since experienced a very rapid rise, being named one of the top athletes in Australia.

Earlier in the year, Jake competed in his first major individual triathlon event, the Mooloolaba Tri. Jake came first in his race against a highly competitive field. Recently, Jake was selected in the Queensland Triathlon team to compete at the National Triathlon titles in Hervey Bay. Jake competed in the open age group and finished a staggering 8th in the country. Jake also finished 3rd in the relay event. Due to his unprecedented success, Jake has been invited to compete with the Australian junior team at the Triathlon Championships in Mexico later in the year! Well done, Jake and all the best for the next stage of competition.

Australian Representation

Congratulations to Kaylee McKeown who has been selected in the Australian Junior Swimming team to compete at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Maui in August. After a dominating display at the Age Championships earlier this month and only narrowly missing out on Olympic selection, it is no surprise that Kaylee was selected to represent the country at the Pan Pacific games! Well done, Kaylee and all the best for the next stage of competition.

Pacific Tennis

This term, our PLC tennis team (Tamika Cheney, Danico Prinsloo, Cossette Winter, Sam Henderson, Michael Hewitt and Jackson Laverick), coached by Mr Nico Prinsloo, has been competing against other Sunshine Coast schools on Wednesday afternoons. Last week, they took on Siena Catholic College and won in a very close match. This week they take on Matthew Flinders Anglican College on our home courts. We wish them all the best for the rest of their season.

District Cross Country

This week the Pacific Cross Country team competed at the Independent District Cross Country Carnival. It was a very warm day, with perfect running conditions. Overall, the secondary team finished in 6th place, only a few points behind 4th overall. There were some great races and a few fantastic results for the College with Jake Hynes winning his race by over a minute! Jazz Morris also finished 4th in her race, meaning she will advance to the Regional Carnival in a few weeks time. Congratulations to all students who attended. It was great to have a full team and everyone competed well. Thank you to all of the senior students who took the time to run in their last ever cross country carnival for the school.

Church News

St Mark's Lutheran Church Caloundra

Pastor Ray Morris, St Mark’s Lutheran Church Caloundra

General Notices

Entertainment Books

Pacific Lutheran College is fundraising with Entertainment™ again this year. The NEW 2016 | 2017 Entertainment™ Book and Digital Memberships are available now and are packed with thousands of up to 50% OFF and 2-for-1 offers. From every Membership we sell, 20% of the proceeds go towards our fundraising for Pacific Lutheran Kindergarten and Early Learning Centre! Click here to order your book or digital membership: https://www.entertainmentbook.com.au/orderbooks/230p536.